Women in STEM: Data Show Rise in Number of Graduates in EU, Romania Leads

The number of women across the European Union countries graduating in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields has witnessed a slight increase in recent years, according to findings from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office.

Data show that women in the EU countries accounted for 32.8 percent of all STEM graduates in 2021, slightly up 0.3 percent compared to the previous year’s 32.5 percent and 0.5 percent compared to 32.3 percent in 2019, Erudera.com reports.

The highest share of women graduating in STEM subjects was recorded in Romania. 42.5 percent of Romanian women earned a degree in STEM in 2021.

In Poland, the proportion of women who graduated in STEM over the same year was 41.5 percent, followed by Greece with 40.9 percent, and Italy with 39.0 percent.

Differently, some member states reported a lower share of women earning a diploma in STEM, with Belgium having the lowest representation of women at 27.4 percent.

Spain and Germany both recorded 27.7 percent, while Austria reported a slightly higher percentage of 28.0 percent.

Malaysia and Tunisia Lead in Female STEM Graduates, India Tops Overall: UNESCO Report

According to data by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, on a global level, countries where women are most likely to obtain STEM diplomas are Malaysia and Tunisia, with nearly 43.5 and about 40 percent of students there graduating in STEM, respectively.

Nonetheless, India leads in STEM graduates due to its huge population of around 1.4 billion people, with 34 percent of its students choosing STEM fields.

While there is progress in women’s participation in STEM fields, experts highlight the need for constant investments in educational programs and supportive resources to address the gender gap in these fields further.

In a statement for Erudera News, the European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, said that although the EU has almost achieved gender parity among PhD graduates, underrepresentation of women in STEM fields continues to be an issue. She said the EU needs to invest more in research and that women should have equal opportunities in the labor market.

“The EU needs to invest in research and development to promote innovation to create better jobs, build a greener society, and improve quality of life. To make sure that is a just transition, we need women to be fully involved in this digital and green revolution so we can build a true Union of Equality,” Dalli said.

In 2019, women comprised the majority of tertiary-educated individuals employed as professionals or technicians in the science and technology fields. At the European level, their share that year was 53.7 percent. However, women continue to be underrepresented among scientists and engineers in Europe — 41.3 percent of this population.

More from Erudera News:

>> More Women Choosing STEM Fields Despite Overall Decline in New Students

>> Women Outnumber Men at European Universities But Remain Less Represented in Labor Market

>> Women in 17 European Countries Have Higher Education Levels Than Men, Yet Earn Less